Monday, June 29, 2015

Daniel Mendelsohn wrote in the introduction to How
Beautiful It Is and How Easily It Can Be Broken, “For (strange as it may sound
to many people who tend to think of critics as being motivated by the lower
emotions: envy, disdain, contempt even) critics are, above all, people who are
in love with beautiful things, and who worry that those things will get
broken.”

My criticism has never been criticized; it is
always me—I am “jealous,” my criticism is “nothing but a
ploy to bring attention to yourself,” etc. Instead of making such assumptions,
why not engage with the criticism? (A. to do so requires the ability to do so.)

That’s how, I realize: on July 11th at
11am, I will participate on the panel “When should we argue with reviews.” The
etiquette of when interests me less than how, but I’ll give when some thought
and why, too——

Later that day, at 1:30pm, I’ll read from a novel
in progress. My Readercon readings are not usually well attended. Let me engage
in a bit of bribery: anyone who comes and listens to me read will receive a
complimentary copy of New Genre no. 7 (while supplies last).

# # #

John Cotter, who contributed the ghost story “After
the Storm,” received his copy and wrote this about the issue.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Very early this morning I wrote, “Maybe after the
first issue was printed I was in a celebratory mood—New Genre was actual—but
that didn’t last. For all the care we took, the issue wasn’t perfect, and ever
since, when a new issue arrives, I only feel anxious.” I added, “I am, however,
entirely confident about the stories. That’s true of every story I’ve ever
published—they’re all fantastic.”

My designer, Eliza Smith, wrote toward the end of
production: “I read all the stories
in my final pass and think this is my favorite issue of NG. Maybe I'm biased,
but I think all five of these stories have a unifying thread of exceptional
quality, and I feel so lucky to have worked on this issue.” Of course we’re
biased, but I agree.

The authors waited a very long time for this
issue to happen. Mr. Flantz was particularly faithful, for which I am grateful.

All the anxiety, what kept me awake last night and on into the morning, is the
worry that I’ve not or will not—that the issue doesn’t—serve the stories as
well as they ought to be served.

# # #

Apparently I attended Readercon 20 in 2009. I
dimly recall moderating a panel “The Career of Elizabeth Hand,” but I don’t
remember anything else about the convention. According to the program, I spoke
about “[Edgar Allen Poe’s] importance to the development of the [horror] genre,”
led a discussion called “Short Horror Fiction: The State of the Art (and Market)
Today,” and interviewed Victoria Blake, founder of Underland Press. Let’s be
clear, I don’t know much about Elizabeth Hand’s career (though I am acquainted
with her and she is great), I don’t know how Poe helped develop the horror
genre, I am a poor navigator of the short fiction horror market, and—well, ok, I
did know something about Underland. There was talk, at one point, of Victoria
buying the digital rights to New Genre. I haven’t been to Readercon since.

I will attend Readercon 26, on Sat., July 11th.
Also in attendance will be G. Carl Purcell. If you will be at Readercon, seek
me out for a copy of New Genre no. 7. And I bet Mr. Purcell will autograph your
copy.

And by the way, Mr. Purcell, as Greg Purcell, is
in the latest issue of Fence. There’s a party in NYC on Thurs., June 25th
at Babycastles to celebrate Fence no. 30.

# # #

Watch this space for news re. New Genre no. 7 as it enters the world, and contact me here with any questions.